An interview with John Eby, endorsed by the Hamilton County Republican Party for Cincinnati City Council.  In this interview, we discuss the budget, environmental issues, political stereotypes, the City’s East-West split, and more.  Learn more about John Eby at his website: http://www.johneby.com/

The Dean: Recently, you were featured in The Enquirer’s political blog, calling David Crowley ”Osama Bin Crowley.” How does such behavior relate to your ability to work with someone like Crowley, should you be elected? Is it important to have working relationships across party lines and across political ideologies about the war?

John Eby: What a life-long lesson! (Never send a personal email while angry.) As an army veteran (like my father before me) I see duty to country as a solemn responsibility. I responded inappropriately on a personal level. “Osama bin Crowley.” My major intent was to draw attention to the real issue, which was council’s inattention to the “business” of this city.  City council’s business IS the business of Cincinnati; not non-binding resolutions on the war in Iraq.  I spoke privately with Mr. Crowley the day the article appeared on the Enquirer blog. I apologized. I also sent an apology (via email) to the other eight members of council, concerning the “Osama” remark. David and I both bring a passion and “Irish Storytelling” to our politics. We remain personally in touch. We consider the matter closed.

The building of relationships is sorely needed in politics today. Rekindling a culture of civility amongst council members is an investment to rebuild confidence in council. My balanced approach stresses the importance of having not only working relationships across party lines, but also interpersonal relationships. At the end of the council meeting we must be able to sit down have a drink with each other.

The Dean: What lessons did you learn about the political process in 2005, and how will you use those to become a stronger candidate in 2007?

John Eby: I learned the following lessons:

I learned that my message was right on track. City Council is addressing the issues I championed. Some people picked up on these later in the campaign.

*Organize, start early and run through the finish line.
*MONEY is incredibly important.
*Never abandon your core values.
*Be honest with yourself and everyone you meet.
*If you don’t know the answer – say I don’t know the answer. Find it and follow up.
*People have a right to be heard.
*People have a right to an honest answer.
*People of good will can disagree (sometimes loudly).
*Sometimes it is “who you know.”
*Get used to being away from your loved ones.  Saying good night to your kids over the phone is no substitute for a hug and a kiss.
*Grow a thick skin because not everyone likes you or your ideas.
*Campaigning is tough, Life is tougher, Deal with it.
*Don’t take yourself too seriously.
*Shake hands, buy lots of festival tickets, shake hands some more, eat, drink and be merry.
*Walk in as many parades as possible.
*Visit as many community council meetings as possible.
*Get used to the idea that you have to be in three places at one time. 

The Dean: This past cycle, many have wondered how Cincinnati’s political lines are being drawn—with several candidates taking positions that seem contrary to the stereotype of their parties.  In your published platform, you support street cars and environment friendly buildings. Public transportation and green issues are typically labeled as “liberal.” How would you describe your own political position among the broad spectrum of ideologies?  What should we think of a Republican taking such liberal talking points?

John Eby: I’m not a major fan of ideologies or stereotypes because they tend to cause division, partisanship, and cloud the vision of those actively involved in the debate.  I’m an electrical engineer by trade.  In my profession I have to work with a diverse (sometimes eclectic) team of individuals; namely architects, interior designers, mechanical engineers, structural engineers, artists, and union trade professionals.  We all have different points of perspective about the project and how it should be built.  We have to work cooperatively to produce a quality, innovative product for our client that meets their budget and is delivered on time.  It takes a great deal of planning, cooperation and compromise to reach that consensus.

Saving energy and curbing pollution isn’t a liberal, conservative or independent idea, it is a human idea.  It is the right idea.  As a consulting engineer it is my responsibility to stay current with the latest energy saving techniques.  Daylighting strategies, LEED certification, staying current with relevant energy codes, such as ASHRAE 90.1-2001, and Dark Sky technology, are all ways of doing business in my industry.  It is how we stay Competitive and ahead in the industry.  Fluorescent lighting in a commercial office building accounts for approximately 60% of the power consumption.  If I can reduce my clients power consumption during peak demand hours I can save them REAL money.  Another added benefit is I’m reducing the need for the energy supplier to burn more fossil fuels- a Win-Win for everybody.  My clients demand innovation, creativity, and solutions.  Isn’t that what you want (as a tax payer) from your city council members?

San Francisco calls to mind Hills and famous cable cars. They are icons of the city. (Believe it or not when I think of Pittsburgh) I see their incline and trolley car system. My recently deceased Father wove stories about riding the trolley cars and the Inclines here in town.  His admiration and passion rubbed off on me. They were fascinating dinner memories. He never rode public transportation after the demise and destruction of the inclines/trolleys.  Often times in Cincinnati we pine for the good old days while rarely looking to the future.  Rudy Giuliani said, ”Leaders need to be optimists. Their vision is beyond the present.” Frequently it is rooted in our past.

Our council members try so hard to make something happen in their first year that they neglect some important steps in the planning process. Vision, Intentionality, and Accountability, must be “the way” we do planning.

Why isn’t development happening in Cincinnati? During our last Mayoral administration, when we needed our planning department the most - our leadership cut them the deepest, effectively dismantling the vision department for Cincinnati.  I’m a true believer in organizational efficiency. “PLAN YOUR WORK.WORK YOUR PLAN. The mission statement of Project for Public Spaces (a non-profit organization) contains key components of how to unlock Cincinnati’s potential.  We must be ”dedicated to creating and sustaining public spaces that build communities.” Business development, quality education, clean safe streets will sustain our public spaces.

Imagine, Cincinnati ten, twenty or fifty years from now? What do you see?

The Dean: If you had been a member of this past council, would you have been part of the so-called “Fiscal Five,” or the minority faction?  Please explain your answer.

John Eby: This is one of your tougher questions. If I were elected to council the make up of the council would have changed.  Who knows what the council make up would have been?  Maybe the fiscal five would have been the fiscal four or three?  Playing ”what IF” is a tough game with too many variables to cover.  I’ll try to answer your question by saying I am the product of my parent’s lineage.  Our line is a mix of Swiss, Irish and Pennsylvania Dutch. (Amish, Mennonite and Catholic).  Hard work, fiscal responsibility, living within your means, loyalty, charity, mercy, devotion to God, family and the community weren’t just buzz words to them.  They lived those ideals.  My parents grew up during the depression. If you didn’t work - you didn’t eat.  Everyone helped everyone else in that time of need. I follow in the footsteps of the “greatest generation” grateful for their sacrifices. Thus both groups had valid discussion points

The issues before council were so varied that I will have to build coalitions with many different people.  Council must live within a budget, offer financial prosperity and develop economic opportunities for all.  We can’t have world- class quality service programs without a world class quality tax base.  The two are intimately joined. The Vision, Intentionality, and Accountability planning process must balance these two realities.

The Dean: In your platform, you mention the need for a fiscally responsible budget. This past budget cycle, the hot-button issue was human service funding. Fewer discussions, however, focused on other types of government subsidized welfare. What is your position on corporate welfare? How should City spending for its corporations be balanced by spending for its neediest citizens?

John Eby: I respect the fact that you again address the issues of Balance and Building which are foundational to my campaign. Council has to think in terms of “AND and not “OR”. We must build our economic base so that the tax base is sufficient to address the societal necessities of our neediest citizens. This is the “AND” principle.  We have a societal, moral obligation” to feed the poor, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless. “The devil is in the details” of balancing the needs and wants of the entire city while being severely limited on resources.  We can’t pay for human services if the coffers are bare.  We must fill the coffers by competing with Northern Kentucky, Butler Township, and Liberty Township through innovation, creativity, and hassle free business procedures.

The reason the budget process was a disaster is because of the way it was negotiated. (Or not negotiated, depending on your point of view).  Ask yourself a few questions.  Who set the priorities?  How were they determined? Why did members of council and the Mayor wait until the eleventh hour to challenge the budget?  What were the behind- the- scenes politics?  Who pulled the money strings?  Someone once wryly noted that only two things keep government from accomplishing its goals—politics and money.

To conclude, we cannot have quality services without a quality tax base. Future councils will need to address this issue on a neighborhood level as well. The survival lessons of the depression may serve us well.

The Dean: In your platform, you write that “healthcare and recreational wellness must be goals that council accomplishes.” What are your best suggested strategies for accomplishing those goals?

John Eby: Dean, in my platform under Education I state that, “I will make it a priority to bring the resources of government, business, social services and the health establishment to improve educational opportunities for all of our parents and their children.” “School choice, student employment opportunities, healthcare and recreational wellness must be goals that council accomplishes”

There are three non-negotiables for young professional and their families, Great schools, clean safe streets, and great housing. 

My vision is to marshal the organizations that exist like, the United Way, Cincinnati Recreation Commission, The health Department, local business and others to focus their collective, creative energy on one goal - Providing our school children with every opportunity for success and wellness.  For example, by partnering CPS with CRC we can bring experts in health and fitness to supplement the staff of the Cincinnati Public Schools. 

These are quality of life issues that will keep our young professionals and their families living in the city.

The Dean: In your platform, you call to establish “a Land Banking Authority with a regional focus and strategy that brings focus not only on housing development, but industrial development as well."Are you calling for bigger government? Also, would such an organization require collaboration with Hamilton County? If so, how would you characterize your working relationship with the County’s Democratic majority? If not, why not?

John Eby: Let’s start with a question, “Do you think Northern Kentucky acts in a regional manner?” The answer isn’t a simple yes.  It’s, Hell Yes!  I am not calling for bigger government. I’m calling for a responsive, efficient, and innovative government.  A government that acts a in a cooperative and regional fashion.  We must imagine new dynamics for bringing business and development to our region that respects local authority while embracing a regional approach to growth.  “Revitalize the core” by making the spokes on the wheel stronger.  There are many issues on which the city and county already continually communicate.  We need a more seamless community approach.  This isn’t a new idea for me.  I have been advocating for regional cooperation that extends to local, county, state and federal cooperation for the last six years.

I have excellent working relationships with David Pepper and Pat DeWine.  I worked with Pat and David on numerous community and political issues when they were part of City Council.  David was a great help to the efforts of the Ryan Commons Park Renovation Team that I formed.  I have not had many opportunities to work with Todd Portune.  I understand the necessity to work across party lines to get problems solved.  I respect his service and dedication to both the county and the city.

Links to Land banking information:

*Current Land banking authorities.

* How land banks work.

Relevent land banking articles – , (2), and (3).

The Dean: As a Westside candidate, what can you say about the alleged political chasm between the Westside and the rest of Cincinnati?

John Eby: To borrow a phrase” There you go again.” I won’t hold your “fascination” with the West side against you as long as you won’t hold my fascination with the East side against me.  As I said earlier, I’m not a major fan of ideologies or stereotypes because they tend to cause division, partisanship, and cloud the vision of those actively involved in the debate.  In my endorsement address to the party I spoke of building bridges across “three rivers” that divide Cincinnati- I-75/ I-71/ and Ft. Washington Way.

We need to think of ourselves as Cincinnatians; as people who embrace the ideas of the citizen soldier Cincinnatus. We are people who embrace common sense, urban community living, accountability (a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work). We strive for a peace of mind that allows a comfortable night of sleep. We seek “real life” solutions to problems like crime, affordable housing, and lack of opportunity. We are a spiritual community that includes many faith denominations. We are hopeful for a better tomorrow. We all basically want “the same thing"- An honest commitment to solving the problems that keep us from completely enjoying the American Dream.

The Dean: Do you have any final remarks?

John Eby: Dean, thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts and beliefs.  Let’s summarize what I have been saying.

Building a greater Cincinnati means…

*Balancing the Economic Development of the banks and our neighborhood business corridors, while stabilizing the three non-negotiables for young professionals and their families.
*World class educational opportunities,
*Clean safe streets, and
*Housing development.

Council must bring a new Vision, Intentionality, and Accountability to our planning process for revitalizing our neighborhoods and renewing our commitment to building the banks. Rekindling a culture of civility amongst council members will rebuild our confidence in city council.

There is a line from a hit movie, “If you build it, they will come.” In Cincinnati our mantra seems to be, “If we build it, will they stay?” I would like you and all our readers to IMAGINE a New Cincinnati.  IMAGINE a city that has world class educational opportunities.  IMAGINE a city that has clean safe streets where family and friends gather to talk with one another.  IMAGINE a riverfront connected to the central city and our neighborhoods, where streetcars and inclines move people to work, movies, plays, concerts, and dinner reservations.  IMAGINE Cincinnati living up to its name, “the Queen City of the West”.  I’m John Eby.  I’m running for city council so that we can STOP IMAGINING and START REALIZING our dreams.

Related

Learn more about candidates for the 2007 Cincinnati City Council elections here.

• Share This Article!
Listen to this article

del.icio.us

Furl It

Anonymous comments are allowed, but you can log in above to stamp your name and to avoid typing the anti-spam code.